Reclining chair



Dec. 12, 1950 F. J. LUKETA 2,533,595

RECLINING CHAIR Filed June 20, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l 3nventor FRANK J.LUKETA.

(Ittornegs F. J. LUKETA RECLINING CHAIR Dec. 12, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed June 20, 1947 a m A m 2 4 mm Nb L mm M 7/ h Lmn F Wu v hi/A? W 3in Dec. 12, 1950 2,533,595

F. J. LUKETA RECLINING CHAIR Filed June 20, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 33maentor FEANK J LUKETA (lttomegs F. J. LU KETA RECLINING CHAIR Dec. 12,1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 20, 1947 attorneys Dec. 12, 1950 F. J.LUKETA RECLINING CHAIR Filed June 20, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 BnnentorFRANK J. 'Lu/cETA C(ttornegs Patenteci Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES ATENT"OFFICE RECLINING CHAIR Frank J. Luketa, Seattle, Wash,

Application June 20, 1947, Serial No. 755,335

13 "Claims. (01. 155-1 05) The present invention relates to loungechairs of the general type shown in various copending applications, forexample in that a seat and a back, constituting main body-supportingelements, are supported for tilting by power means about a common pivot,each relative to the other, so that they can move relatively from anearly horizontal position into a position where either one is nearlyupright, and in that an auxiliary body-supporting element, such as thelegrest or the headrest, is associated with and adjustabie with respectto each of the main body-supporting elements, the seat or the back,respectively.

The present invention is most directly concerned-with theadiustmentparticula-rly, though not exclusively, the tiltingadjustment-of the auxiliary. body-supporting elements, the provision ofmeans for holding the same in tilted position, and the provision ofmeans, in part automatic, for restoring such auxiliary body-- supportingelement to its normal attitude when retracted into position along theswinging edge of the main body-supporting element with which it isassociated, or whereupon it is supported.

The invention is also concerned with the projection and retraction, andsometimes the depression or raising of these auxiliary body-supportingelements, and with the interrelationship of the seat and back in orderto accommodate the resultant necessary movement of the arms whichsupport and which effect bodily shifting of the auxiliarybody-supporting elements each with relation to its main body-supportingelement. Particularly in view of the fact that the seat and back mustcome nearly into alignment when both approach the horizontal, yet eachone must tilt independently with respect to the other, and thesupporting arm for the legrest in particular requires a long cantileversupport of greater length than the seat afiords, the invention concernsthe avoidance of conflict between this arm and the back, and also theprovision of adequate support for the rearwardly projecting portion ofthe arm.

The general object of the invention is to provide a lounge chair havingthe parts each relatively and independently adjustabie, as has alreadybeen indicated in a general manner, and with the parts so interrelatedas to support and interact one with another without interference.

More specifically, it is one object of the present invention to providean auxiliary body-supporting element such as a legrest or headrest,which not only is bodily projectable from its main body supportingelement, but which in addition is otherwise adjustable, and inparticular is concerned with themeclranis'm whereby-such ther adjustmentis accomplished, and by which parts maybe in mos't'cases automaticallyrestored to their retracted positions and attitudes, w ng-'1' theauxiliary body-supporting element in generaland retractable and alsotiltable when projected,

but it is further shiftable downwardly and upwardly with respect to theseat, and since it supported on long cantilever arm's, this involvesfurther problems of adequate support, and of protection againstaccidental injury during rearward projection of such arms, and it is tothe solution of these problems that the invention is directed. 4

The tilting of the auxiliary body-supporting element and its securementin various adjusted positions, and its release for return from tiltedposition to 'nontilted position is capable of being efiected by variousmechanisms, and one of the objects of the invention is-so to incorporatethis phase of the invention in various mechanisms, all suited to achievethe "general objects of the invent-ion explained above.

In a mechanism of this sort, particularly where the auxiliarybody-supporting element is automaticaliy or *sembwtomatically to returnunder power to its position close against the swinging edge of "the mainbody-supporting element whereon it is supported, there is some dangerthat the fingers may be caught and pinched between the twobody-supporting elements as they come together under power, and it isone of the objectsof this invention to devise mechanism automaticallyoperable to lessen the force by which the final retractive movement ofthe auxiliary body-supporting element is accomplished, so that iffingers should be disposed between the two elements the power means willbe ineffective to pinch them or to do serious injury.

Various other mechanisms are disclosed herein, but certain of these,particularly those which relate to the tilting mechanism 'for the seatand the back, are considered as separate inventions and are claimed inanother application which is filed concurrently "herewith, Serial -No.755,836,- filed June 20, 1947, 'now abandoned.

With the objects indicated, and others, in mind, as will appear morefully hereinafter, invention comprises the novel parts and the novelcombination and arrangement thereof, shown- 3 in the accompanyingdrawings in various preferred forms, and as will be more fully explainedhereinafter, and the particular parts which constitute my invention willbe defined in the copended claims.

Figure 1 is a general plan view, with parts broken away, illustratingthe arrangement of the whole chair, in a typical form.

Figure 2 is a general axial section, somewhat enlarged, and on atransverse horizontal plane, illustrating the coaxial tilting axis andelements for the seat and back, and the power connections for effectingtilting of these elements.

Figure 3 is in general a vertical longitudinal section through the seatat one side, illustrating one form of mechanism for controlling theprojection and retraction and the tilting of the legrest, andillustrating a footrest structure.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view through the same, takensubstantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an isometric view of a fulcrum element which is part of themechanism shown in Figure -3.

Figure 6 is in general a sectional view on a vertical plane from frontto rear, through the back and through the headrest, illustrating oneform of headrest tilting control, and projecting mechanism for theheadrest.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view through the headrest mechanism takenalong the line l-l of Figure 6, and Figure 8 is a similar view of adifferent part of the headrest mechanism, the line of section beingindicated at 8-8 in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a detail section through a portion of the legrest supportingmechanism taken along the line 9-4! of Figure 3 Figure 10 is atransverse vertical sectional view through the forward edge of the seattaken from the view-point indicated by the line l0-Hi of Figure 1. v

Figure 11 is a sectional view substantially along the line HH of Figure10.

Figure 12 is a view in the nature of a longitudinal vertical sectionthrough the seat and back illustrating somewhat diagrammatically themanner in which the back and the headrest support assist at times insupporting the legrest.

Figure 13 is in the nature of a broken-away detail of the legrest ofFigure 12.

Figure 14 is an enlarged view through a headrest and its tilt controlmechanism, somewhat similar to this portion of Figure 6, butillustrating a different mechanical construction, and Figure 15 is asectional view through the same along the line l5-l5 of Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 14, and Figure 17 a view similarto Figure 15, but taken on the line I'I-Il of Figure 16, these. twolattervviews illustrating a still further modification of the headresttilting control.

Figure 18 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing a modified arrangementof the mechanism for effecting elevation and depression of the legrest,and Figure 19 is a similar view with headrest mechanism of the typeshown in Figure 6, but illustrating particularly a still furthermodification of the mechanism to effect elevation and depression of thelegrest.

The principal parts of the chair are the seat I, the back 2, the sidearms 3 which are part of the supporting frame that rests upon the floor,the legrest 4 and the headrest 5. The seat i is tiltable about the axisof a hollow shaft [0, to which it is secured by means typified by thebolt l2 which engages the seat frame and the arm H fast to the shaft l9and radiating from the latter (see Figure 2). The back is coaxiallytiltable, arms 2| being secured upon hollow shaft 20 and being in turnconnected to the frame of the back. A motor l9, operating through aspring-pressed friction clutch IS, the shaft 11, the worm pinion l6, andthe worm quadrant 15 fast upon the shaft It, permits power operation ofthe seat to tilt it upwardly or downwardly, under control, for instance,of the button I. Similarly, a

button 24 controls a motor 29, which operates through the spring-pressedfriction clutch 28, the shaft 27, the worm pinion 25, and the worm gear25 which is fast upon the shaft 29, and by such means the back may betilted upwardly or downwardly.

Figure" 12 shows in full lines one extreme adjusted position of the seatand back relatively to one another and shows in dot-dash lines anelevated position of the back. It is the intention that the seat betiltable upwardly until it is nearly vertical and that the back besimilarly tiltable upwardly until it is nearly vertical, but it is notnecessary or desirable that both be tiltable upwardly at the same time,nor that they ever approach one another by an angle of less than andwhile the inclusion or omission of such means will not affect thepresent invention particularly, means to prevent such an occurrence aredisclosed in my Patent No. 2,526,248, granted October 17, 1950 on myapplication, Serial No. 683,185 filed July 12, 1946, and these orequivalent means may be employed, if desired, in the presentconstruction.

In order to enable the chair to be taken apart readily for servicing orinspection the shaft 20 is made in two parts which intermesh endwise, asmay be seen in Figure 2, and a tie-rod 35 extends through and supportsthese shafts It and 28 and gears l5 and 25 mounted thereon, being heldin place by the bolts 3| or a similar element, thus constituting a tiebetween the two side arms 3. In similar fashion cross bars 32 and 33 tietogether the side arms 3 and are arranged to come apart. However, sincethese features of the chair are not a part of the present invention, andare shown in greater detail in said abandoned application, Ser. No.755,836, it is believed no further detailed description is necessaryhere.

The seat I and the back 2 constitute generally similar mainbody-supporting elements, the one supporting the lower part and theother the upper part of the body of the occupant. Each is independentlytiltable with relation to the other and to the side arms 3. Each hasalso an auxiliary body-supporting element. With relation to the back 2the headrest 5 is the auxiliary body-supporting element. With relationto the seat I the legrest 4 is the auxiliary body-supporting element.These two auxiliary body-supporting elements are very much alike, and aconstruction which would serve for one will, in most respects, serveequally well for the other. The differences are dictated largely by thegreater weight of the legs which is imposed upon the legrest 4 ascompared to the weight upon the headrest 5, and the.

greater forward extension or projection of the legrest with respect tothe seat-as compared to the extension upward of the headrest withrelation to the back. Also, in some forms, the legrest may be depressedand raised relative to the general plane of the seat, whereas this isseldom desirable for a headrest.

The legrest 4 in Figures 1 and 3 is carried at the outer end of a pairof arms 4|, one at each side, which are guided within channels ortunnels H3 at the sides of the seat frame, for extension outwardly andretraction inwardly. In addition, the legrest 4 is pivotally mounted atto tilt with respect to its supporting arms 4|. Each arm 4| is formed,within a channel at its lower edge, with a rack bar 42 which rides upona spur gear 43 mounted upon a shaft 46 extending transversely of theforward edge of the seat, so that both of the supporting arms 4| may beactuated alike. the arms 41 in-wardly or outwardly, depending upon thedirection of rotation 'of the shaft. Such movement may be given theshaft through the chain drive at from the motor 49 operating through thefriction clutch 48 and the shaft 41 and controlled suitably, as by thebutton 44.

Since it is desirable ordinarily to permit the legrest 4 to be depressedor elevated with relation to the general plane of the seat the gears 43and the shaft '46 may be carried at the swinging end of an arm 5pivotally mounted at 66 coaxially of the shaft 47, and other mechanismis provided for raising or lowering the outer end of the arm 6. Thismechanism is best shown in Figures 1 and 10. A drum 6i (see also Figure11) is formed with ratchet teeth 62, and, being hollow, contains aspiral torsion spring '63. This spring tends to windup cables 64 whichpass about pulleys B5 and thence connect with the swinging end of eacharm 5. A dog 65 engages the ratchet teeth 62, and

is directed to prevent downward movement of the legrest 4 but the dog 62can be disengaged by pressure upon a button 61 (see Figure 10) whichpresses downwardly upon an extension of the dog 66 through the link 68.dog is thus disengaged from the ratchet teeth the legrest can bedepressed; this action winds up the spring 63, so that any time thedepressing force is removed the spring unwinds, and thereby winds up thecable 64 and raises the arms 6 and consequently the arms 4| to theirfull upward limit.

The gears 43 constitute a support in the nature of a fulcrum for thearms 4|, and since these arms 4| at times must be projected wellforwardly of the seat and of the gears 43, it is obvious that thecantilever arms 4i must be well supported at their inner ends. Moreover,it is obvious that these arms must be extended well rearwardly when thelegrest is fully retracted, yet the seat 7 is relatively short in foreand aft extent. At its rear end each arm 4| is provided with a guideroller H1 and a guide pin 7. The guide roller 10 rolls against the topsurface of the tunnel l3 and the pin 1 (see Figures 1 and 9) whenprojected engages within a groove 37 in the side arm 3, and constitutesa stable balance for this inner end of the arm 4|, and, with its housing-'|-|,-centers the arm 4| within the tunnel l3. The pin l, however, isspring pressed outwardly by the spring ll, therefore may yield inwardlywhen it reaches the end of the groove, as is indicated by the dot-dashline showing in Figure 9. At the position of greatest retraction of thelegrest the inner end of the arms 4| project rearwardly beyond "theseat, and indeed into range of the tilting movement of the back '2. AsFigure 12 shows, however, the frame of the back 2 is also tunneled, andthis tunnel 23 is received, when necessary,

the rearwardly projecting end of the arms 4|.

Rotation of the shaft 46 moves j When the The arms 5| which constitutethe immediate sup port of the headrest 5 likewise slide within thistunnel 23. The arms 4| and 5| lie in the same plane, and if the backshould ever be tilted downwardly to its limit position, such as is shownin Figure 12, while the seat is also tilted downwardly, the roller 10bears now upon the lower edge of the arm 5|, for the latter does nottilt but only moves inwardly and outwardly, having itself a roller 52which rolls along the top of the tunnel 23 and a gear wheel 53 whichoperates in conjunction with a rack 55 in the same manner that the gear43 and rack 42 cooperate. The back frame may be provided also with thegroove 57 corresponding to the groove 31. Inward and outward movement ofthe headrest and its arms 5| is accomplished by means of the motor 59operating through the drive means 58, which effects rotation of the gear53. The headrest is tiltable with respect to the arms 5| upon the pivotaxis at 50. Control of the motor 59 is accomplished by means such as thebutton 54.

Since, as has been indicated, the legrest is subject to greater loadsthan the headrest, it is desirable to provide it with a further supportor fulcrum such as is shown at Figure 5. This consists, in essence, ofan upstanding longitudinally disposed ridge 72 supported within thetunnel l3 and riding within the groove in the arm 4| at the upper end ofwhich the rack 42 is formed. This support 72 tilts with the seat and isat such inclination and so disposed as to permit full freedom ofdepression of the arms 4|, and yet it affords an adequate support forthe legrest against excessive downward movement. Ordinarily the arms 4|are centered within the tunnel i3 by the pin 1, but when the pin isrearwardly beyond the tunnel, the ridge 72 centers the arm.

One feature disclosed in the legrest of Figure 3, and also in Figure 1,is not shown in other forms of the legrest, this being the footrest. Thecross bar 4H5 of this footrest lies normally beneath the lower inneredge of the footrest 4, and is suspended in that position by the sidebrackets 4| pivoted at H2. Comparison of the full line and dot-dash linepositions of Figure 3 will show its retracted and its extendedpositions. It can be drawn up from its retracted position by engagementof ones toe beneath it, and when lifted to the extended position, isheld in such position by a spring-pressed dog MS, as is clear fromFigure 3. That dog has a pin 4|4, which projects upwardly, and a bar425, slidable within one or both of the arms 4|, is notched to receivethe lug 4'i4. Inward movement of the rod 429 raises and disengages thedog 4|3. The rod 420 is normally held projected or thrust to the left bya spring 42| (see Figure 4), and its inward movement in opposition tothe spring is accomplished under the influence of a small trip lever422, one end of which engages within a notch in the rod 425, and theother end of which projects from the side of the arm 4|. This projectingend may be depressed by the toe of the chairs occupant, or automaticallyby other means, as will shortly be explained. Also as will shortlyappear, the rod 429 has a further function in connection with thetilting of the legrest 4 about its pivot 46. The function of thefootrest 4? is to afiord the occupant a place to place his feet otherthan on the upholstered legrest 4, particularly when he has his kneessomewhat drawn upwardly.

As has already been indicated, each of the auxiliary body-supportingelements, namely the leg res't 4 and the headrest 5, is pivotablerelative to its supporting arms 4| or 5|, respectively, and means areprovided for retaining it in certain of such pivoted positions, and ofeffecting or permitting its return to normal position in generalprolongation of the plane of its main body-supporting element whenrequired or desired. Referring to the form shown in Figure 3, the end ofthe arm 4| engages within an enlarged notch M5, which in eifect isintegral with the legrest Q, and thus may tilt slightly about the pivot38 within the limits defined by the notch 355. A locking notch M6 ispositioned to be engaged by the end of the rod 4253, and when so engagedthe legrest may not tilt about the pivot axis 48. When the rod 420 iswithdrawn to the right, as viewed in Figure 3, the legrest t may tiltabout the axis at 40; The rod 42:; is thus withdrawn to the rightwhenever the projecting end of the trip 42?. is moved to the left, asviewed in Figure l. It projects in such position that it engages theforward edge of the frame of the seat I as the arms 4| are retractedinto the tunnel I3, and this action moves the rod 425 to the right, andholds the rod thus retracted. It follows that, automatically asretraction occurs, the legrest 4 asa whole will be free to pivot aboutits axis at 40, and thus to adjust itself to lie close against theforward edge of the seat Also by operation of the trip lever 322 the dogM3 is disengaged, to permit the footrest Mi] to drop by gravit to itscorrect or retracted position at the lower inner corner of the footrest4. Thus it can be seen that retraction of the footrest and adjustment ortilting of the legrest may be accom-- plished under conscious control ofthe seat occupant, or automatically, in either instance by rocking ofthe trip lever 22.

In Figure 13 a somewhat different arrangement is shown. Here a dog 5|!is springpressed to engage within the notch M8, which is formed ona'curved terminus of the arm ll, on a radius about the pivot point at40. A button M9 projects through the inner face of the legrest l, and isconnected to the dog M! to lift the dog out of the notch M8. Suchmovement of the button MS can be accomplished by the foot of theoccupant of the chair. By reason of the lower rear edge of the legrestengaging the forward edge of the seat, it is assured automatically thatthe legrest will accommodate itself to the proper attitude as it comesback against the forward edge of the seat. While only one notch M8 isshown, there may be several, if desired.

Similar constructions may be employed in the headrest, or the headrestconstructions about to be described might be substituted in the legrest,which emphasizes the similarity of the legrest and headrest,respectively.

The headrest 5, shown in Figure 6, pivots about the axis indicated at Aspring within the ratchet drum 5m, upon the headrest, tends to wind up acable 5 secured to the arm 5|, and thereby to tilt the headrestforwardly. A light push, or the action of gravity, will tilt theheadrest backwardly, provided a dog EH2 is released from the ratchetdrum 5H3. The dog 5|2 pivots at 5|3 upon the headrest, and can bedisengaged from the dog, to tilt the headrest rearwardly, by manualpressure upon the button 55 i or prer sure upon the rod 55, operableautomatically by the retraction of the arms 5|. The rod 5|5 projectsfrom the end of an arm or the arms 5| under the influence of the spring5H5 (Figure '7) An actuator 5|! projecting laterally from the arm 5|serves much the same function as the projecting trip lever 422. It is solocated that in retraction of the arm 5| it will engage within thetunnel 23, and will urge the projecting end of the rod EH5 outwardly orto the right as seen in Figure 6, thereby to'lift the dog 5|2. Eithersuch trip 5H1 or 5|5 will operate in any tilted position of the headrestby reason of the curvature of the surface or edge of the dog 5|2 whichthey engage. When the dog is so disengaged the headrest will be swungdownwardly by gravity, or by a slight push, and so it will come to restin a position in substantial prolongation of the general plane of theback 2, in much the same manner as did the legrest l in conjunction withthe seat I.

The arrangement shown in Figures 14 and 15 is somewhat similar exceptthat the dog 5|2 engages a ratchet segment 5l8, which is fixed withrelation to the headrest. An actuator MI is positioned for movement bythe push button 5M, to engage a rock arm 522, which is connected to andwhich rocks the dog M2. The rod 5|5 also engages this rock arm 522. Thenet result is that pressure upon the button did or automatic projectionof the rod 5|5 will disengage the dog 5|2 its ratchet, permitting theheadrest 5 to drop under the influence of its own weight into or towardsthe dot-dash line position of Figure 14.

The arrangement of Figures 16 and 1'? is similar. Here "the rodcorresponding to rod 515 is designated 523, and itself constitutes adog, being pointed at its projecting end. It is springurged outwardly bythe spring 524, recessed within the end of the arm 5|. The dog 523engages the curved ratchet sector 525, to hold the headrest 5 in anytilted position. The dog 523 may be withdrawn from engagement with theteeth at 525 by rocking of the trip lever 526, which occursautomatically as a result of retraction of the arms 5|, or the dog maybe depressed from engagement with the teeth at 525 by an actuator 532iguided within the headrest and lying alongside the teeth at 525, butnormally retracted therefrom. When it is moved to the left anddownwardly, as viewed in Figure 16, into the dotted line position, thedog 523 is broad enough that it will be engaged by the actuator 521, andthe dog 523 will be urged out of engagement with the teeth at 525. Suchmovement may be accomplished by the button projecting laterally at 523,which is connected to the actuator 521.

The groove 3? has been mentioned heretofore, but it has not been madeentirely clear why the pin is caused to retract and withdraw from thegroove 3?, when moved to the right, and as the legrest is approachingits retracted position. It is clear that so long as the arms 4| areguided by the pin 1 in the groove 31, and by the gear 43, whatever maybe the vertical position of the latter, no further support is necessarynor possible. However, when the arms 4| approach their retractedposition, first the upper edge of arm 4| engages fixed roller 13, andthen the pin 1 and roller it will project beyond the rear edge of theseat. Now the forward support for the legrest arms ii is assumed by theguide at E2, but still a rearward or inboard guide and support isnecessary, yet some tilting of the arms 4| may be desirable, as is bestseen in Figure 12. Consequently the pin '5 must withdraw from the grooveat 31, and the roller it then projects beneath the lower edge of the arm5|, which-is guided in the groove at 57, and now the support for thearms 4|.is between the members 12 and 4.3,v or. between 13 and 43-. Theback, however, can. still tilt upwardly, if. necessary. Upon leftward.movement of the pin 1 it isguided for reengagement within the groove 31.

It will be realized that there. is the possibility of: the occupanthaving his fingers between the back and the seat during the time thatthe arms H are being projected rearwardly across the gapbetween the backand seat. Should this happen, there. would be danger of injuring suchfingers. 'I-fo guard against this to the greatest extent possible theseat, at least at its side edges, those which constitute the tunnel I3,is carried rearwardlv to fit within a recess in the back, and the backis carried forwardly to overlap the seat, the twobeing interfitted asindicated at 22 in Figure'12.-

The forms shown in Figures 18 and 19 differ from: those already shownonly in the provision of modified mechanism for accom lishing t edepression and elevation of the le rest arms 4|. In

the form of Figure 18, instead of the cable 64, the

tilting arm 5 is raised by means of a chain GI-ll passing over a uidepul ey or sprocket wheel 6| I from its connection to the swinging end ofthe arm 6. and ass ng thence under and about the sprocket wheel 612,which is mounted coaxially with the tilting actions of the seatand back.A ratchet'wheel 613, fast to the sprocket wheel (H2, is held in positionby a re easable s ring-held dog fil -4. A tension s rint. M5 in effectengages the free end of the chain 6| ll, or e'ouivalently enagesandtends to rotate the s rocket wheel BIZ, in such manner asto ullthe arms 6 u wardly. By releasing the dog 6|4. downward movement may beaccomp shed, whereas u ward movement of the arms 6 is automatic underthe influence of the s ring 6| 5. Release ofthe dog may be accom lishedby such means as the solenoid SIB, suitably operated by the occupant ofthe chair.

The arrangement in Figure 19 is quite similar. The swinging end of thearm 6 carries a drum and a spur gear, indicated at 620, which mesheswith a'curved: segment ml. which is fast to the frame of the seat. Acable 622, passing about the drum associated with the gear 620, andthence about a ratchet drum 623:, serves by reason of a torsion:Sfllil'lg" within the drum to wind up the cable 622 and thus toreturnthe arms- 6 and 4| alwavsto their up ermost position, where they areheld by a. dog 624.. Depression of thearms 4! and 6 can be accomplishedwhenever the dog 624 is. disenga ed, and this is accom lished by suchmeans as the projecting ush button 625, which the occupant of the chairmay depress, thus -to rock. the dog 624 out of engagement with itsratchet teeth.

It is desirable that whatever s ring means is employed tourge thelegrest 4 or the lever arms 5 upwardly beof such force that, when thearms 4| arerpro-iecte'd by'a predetermined amount'the legres-t4v will bedepressed by gravity, whereas as the arms M are retracted, when the samepoint is reached the spring force will automatically lift the legrest toits upperlimit. Thus it is automatically located at the proper level toresume its retracted position in. prolongation of the plane of the seatI, and in such positionthat. bv engagement with the staffs forward edge,it will tilt about its pivot 40 to conform' properly with the seat. Ofcourse, an external; depressing force can be applied to the legrest,even when it is fully retracted (as in Figure 12):, but it will riseagain when such depressing force is removed.

It has been mentioned hereinbefore that it is 10 desirableto. avoid the.likelihood of injury to the. fingersof the occupant ifjtheyhappen to beposi tionedfor instance,..between thefront edge of the seat and the rearedge of the legrest when the. latter is retracting, to its fullretracted position. Indeed it is. desirable in all such power operated.mechanism. to avoid the. probability of injury; but the. particularpoint mentioned is one place; in particular where such injury ismostlikel'y' to occur, and. the clutch 48 (see Figure l) is especiallydesigned to avoid this possibility of injury. The. parts. of. thisclutch,. which are two plates, are" cam-urged together by the cams onthe ends of. the. pivoted levers 4'80. Rocking. of these leversidfl'outwardly from the axis of the shaft 41 lessens; the pressure.between the clutch plates at 48. A. collar 481 is threaded upon theshaft 4T, and is? prevented from rotation by the pin 482, and in.additi'onitis conedi at. at least one end, and preferably at. bothvends. As the legrest 4 approaches its full retracted position adjacentth forward,

edgeof. the seat I,. the collar 48| approaches the; levers 4'80, andspread them apart. The endsof cam levers 480. ride upon the conedend of.the collar or nut. 48]. This. lessens. the spring, pressure urgingtogether the clutch plates at 48 to. such an extent disables the clutchthat if there: is any obstacle interposed between the. legr'est and theseat,. the. motor 49 will no longer be able to? transmit sufficientpower to complete the closing. of the. Iegrest, hence the fingers, ifthese be the; obstacles interposed, cannot be pinchedv and in.- jured".The pin at-482 serves also to actuate limit switches 483 and'484'todeenergize the motor 49 at the respective limits of travel of thelegrest.

Various structural forms and arrangements. will be observed which.permit the parts, of the chair to be readily separated and taken. apart,but. as

, these form no part of the present invention it. is

believed unnecessary to describe them. in detail;

I claim as my invention:

1. Ina chair, an auxiliary body-supporting. element,v a support thereforwhereon the auxiliary body-supporting element is tiltably mounted upon atransverse axis offset from. the gravity axis at said element, aratchet. segmentanda ratchet dog normally engaged therewith, one carriedby the auxiliary body-supporting, element and the. other by the support,to. retain said elementv in selected tilted positions, a device guidedupon said element forv movement to. engage and. disengage said dog. fromsaid ratchet segment,v and two actuators operatively connected tov saiddevice to shift the same, one being disposed for manual. operation, andthe other for automatic engagement upon bodily shifting. of the.auxiliary body-supporting element, thereby disengaging. the dog. fromthe ratchet segment.

2. In, a chair, a floor-supported frame, a. seat supported thereon forlimited tilting about an axis adjacent the seats rear edge, a. backlimitedly coaxially tiltably mounted, alegrest, a headrest, an armguided in: the. seatfor projection and retraction, constitutingv a.cantilever support-for the legrest, and of a length such that, whenretracted, it projects; behind the seat, a similar arm guided in theback for projection and retraction, constituting a cantilever supportfor theheadrest', and of length to overlap the legrest arm when thelatter is retracted, the two arms lying, generally i-nthe same verticallongitudinal plane and being formed and located to pass by one anotherin all relative positions of themselves and of. the seat and back,within their limitsof movement.

3. A chair as in. claim 2, including a support for, the legrestsupporting arm located adjacent the forward swinging edge of the seat,and means to elevate and lower said support to adjust the level of thelegrest relative to the seat.

4. A chair as in claim 2, including a support for thelegrest supportingarm located towards the swinging edge of the seat from its tilting axis,and guidemeans upon the rear end of said arm engageable beneath theheadrest supporting arm, to constitute a rear support for the legrestsupporting arm.

5. Ina chair, in combination, a main bodysup'porting element, anauxiliary body-supporting element.- arms supporting said auxiliaryelement substantially in prolongation of the general plane of said mainelement, guide means in the main element receiving said arms forprojection and retraction of themselves and their supported auxiliaryelement, said auxiliary element being supported from said arms fortilting relative thereto about a transverse axis, securing means carriedby said arms and engageable with said auxiliary element to secure thesame in any such tilted position, and release means operativelyconnected to said securing means for disengaging the same from saidauxiliary element, said release means including an element for actuationthereof, movable with the auxiliary element, and said main elementhaving a portion positioned in the path of said actuating element foractuation of such release means by approach of the auxiliary element toits retracted position, thereby to release said auxiliary element fromits tilted position, for selfositioning relative to and by contact withsaid portion of the main body-supporting element. 7 V

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein the securing. means includesratchet teeth and a spring-urged dog, and the release means actuatingelement which is carried by the auxiliary body-supporting element,projects from the latter towards the main body-supporting element.

and is operatively connected to said dog to disengage the same uponbeing engaged and pressed bythe main element itself.

.7. In a chair, in combination, a main bodysupporting element, anauxiliary body-supporting element. means on the main body-supportingelement supporting the auxiliary element for projection from its normalposition close to the main element, and for retraction thereto. powermeans to effect at least such retraction, and means cooperating withsaid power means for reducing the power thereof available to retractsaid auxiliary element, said means including a control member movablewith the auxiliary element and a coopcrating control member positionedfor engagemet thereby during final approach movement of the auxiliaryelement toward its retracted position, and for actuation of saidpower-reducing means, to prevent injury or 'damage in the event fullretraction is obstructed.

-8. The chair combination defined in claim '7, wherein thepower-reducing means comprises clutch mechanism having cooperable clutchelements and spring means normally urging the same toge her withpredetermined pressure for tran mission of normal retracting power tothe auxiliary element without slippage of such clutch elements, andwherein the power-reducing control members cooperate with such clutchmechanism to reduce the clutch pressure progressively during the finalapproach movement of the auxiliary element, and thereby progressivelyreduce the power which can be transmitted through the clutch elementswithout slippage therebetween.-

9. In a chair, incombination, a seat, a back, means supporting eachthereof for tilting independently of the other about a common axisadjacent the rear edge of the seat, between generally horizontal andmore nearly upright positions; means so to tilt each of the seat andback, 'a' leg rest, arms supporting the leg rest for projec tion andretraction, and extending when parts are retracted from the forward edgeof the seat rearwardly through and beyond its rear edge, means carriedby the seat engaging and guiding said arms for projection and retractionof the leg' rest, said leg rest being supported on the arms for tiltingabout a transverse axis, means to secure the leg rest in any such tiltedposition, and release means operatively connected to said securingmeans, and mounted for projective and retractive movement with the legrest, in posi-' tion to engage the seat as the leg rest approaches itsretracted position, to release it from said securing means for freetilting about such trans verse axis.

19. In a chair, in combination, a seat, a back, means supporting theseat for tilting about a horizontal axis, a legrest, arm-s carried bythe seat and projecting forwardly therefrom to support the legrest,means guiding said arms for lengthwise movement to project and retractthe legrest relative to the seat, such means including pivot andantifriction means guiding the rearward portions of said arms forswinging in a vertical plane and for movement generally fore and aft ofthe seatv downwardly facing gear racks extend ing along said arms inermediate their ends, pinions engaging such racks to support the armsand rotatable to shift the same lengthwise for proiection and retractionthereof, generallyhorizontal crank arms rotatively supporting saidpinions at the swinging ends of such crank' arms for raising andlowering the pinions and thereby the gear racks and legrest, andseparate operating means for rotating the pinions conjointly and forrocking the crank arms conjointly, 'for independent fore and. aftshifting, and raising and lowering of the legrest relative to the seat.I

11. In a chair, in combination, a' seat, a back, means su porting eachthereof for 'tiltingin dependently of the other about a common axisadjacent the rear edge of the seat, between generally horizontal andmore nearly upright positions, means so to tilt each of the seat andback. a leg rest, arms supporting the legrest for projection and rtraction. and ext nding when parts are retracted from the forward edgeof the seat rearwardly t rough and beyond its rear e ge. means carriedby the seat engaging and guiding said arms for proj ction andretractionof the legrest. means carried by the seat and en-' gageablewith said arms near their forward ends to elevate or depress them andthe l'egrest supported t ereby, retaining means automatically engageablewith the arms to retain them in any depressed position, butdisengageable at will, and spring means to restore the arms to their upraised position upon such disengagement.

12. A chair as in claim 11, wherein the legrest is also supported onsaid arms for tilting relative thereto about a transverse axis, means tosecure the legrest in any such tilted position, and release meansoperatively connected to said secur-" ing means, and positioned toengage the seat as the legrest approaches retracted position, and re:gardless of the elevation or depression of the" arms, to disengage saidsecuring means and thereby to free the legrest for self-positioningrelative to and by contact with the seat.

13. In a chair, in combination, a seat, a back, means supporting theseat for tilting about a horizontal axis, a legrest, arms carried by theseat and projecting forwardly therefrom to support the legrest, meansguiding said arms for lengthwise movement to project and retract thelegrest relative to the seat, such means including pivot and,antifriction means guiding the rearward portions of said arms forswinging in a vertical plane and for movement generally fore and aft ofthe seat, means engaging said arms to shift the same lengthwise forprojection and retraction thereof, generally horizontal crank armspivoted at one end and having swinging opposite ends supportinglyengaging said legrest arms for raising and lowering the same andj--thereby the legrest, and separate operating 14 means for rocking thecrank arms coniointly, thereby to raise and lower the legrest relativeto the seat.

J. ,LUKE'IA.

REFERENCES" CITED Therfollowing references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

